St Patrick’s Day is coming up this Sunday and is widely celebrated in the UK, with London alone attracting more than 250,000 partygoers for the occasion. But which UK city is the best to enjoy a pint of Guinness?
Accor has conducted research to reveal the best UK cities beyond Ireland and Northern Ireland to enjoy a pint of Guinness, alongside the best pubs. The research analysed the sentiment of Google reviews regarding a pint of Guinness across the top UK pubs to generate a Guinness score out of 100.
- Nottingham is crowned the best city to enjoy a pint of Guinness with a sentiment score of 87/100
- York and Newcastle are the runners up sharing the second and third place
- The best pub in the UK to enjoy a pint of Guinness is Nottingham’s Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
The top UK cities outside Ireland to enjoy a pint of Guinness
| Rank | City | City Guinness Sentiment Score |
| 1 | Nottingham | 87 |
| 2 | York | 81 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 81 |
| 3 | Birmingham | 80 |
| 4 | Norwich | 77 |
| 4 | Glasgow | 77 |
| 4 | London | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield | 73 |
| 6 | Manchester | 69 |
| 7 | Edinburgh | 66 |
| 8 | Cardiff | 64 |
| 9 | Bristol | 62 |
| 10 | Southampton | 61 |
The ranking reveals Nottingham as the best UK city for savouring a pint of Guinness, after achieving an impressive Guinness sentiment score of 87. With an array of traditional and Irish pubs, Nottingham offers ample opportunities to indulge in the Irish brew. Additionally, the city hosts vibrant St. Patrick’s Day celebrations across its venues, making it an ideal destination for commemorating the occasion.
Sharing the second position are the northern cities of York and Newcastle, both earning a Guinness sentiment score of 81. York is gearing up for its 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, set to take place on the 16th of March along Market Street. Newcastle is bustling with an exciting lineup of St. Patrick’s Day events, featuring a pub crawl and an Irish-themed day at the races.
Concluding the top three hotspots for a pint of Guinness is Birmingham, holding an overall score of 80. With a staggering 418 pubs scattered across the city, it’s no wonder Birmingham ranked so highly in the study.
The best UK pubs outside Ireland to enjoy a pint of Guinness
| Rank | Place | City | Guinness Sentiment Score |
| 1 | Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Brewhouse Yard, 1, Nottingham NG1 6AD | Nottingham | 98 |
| 2 | Rosie’s Bar, Parkside, 2 Stowell St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4XQ | Newcastle | 97 |
| 3 | The Punch Bowl, 7 Stonegate, York YO1 8AN | York | 96 |
| 3 | Murphy’s, 49 Bell St, Glasgow G1 1NX | Glasgow | 96 |
| 4 | Old Dog & Partridge, 18 Lower Parliament St, Nottingham NG1 3DA | Nottingham | 95 |
| 5 | The Canal House, 12 Bridge St, Birmingham B1 2JR | Birmingham | 94 |
| 6 | The Priory, 103 Micklegate, York YO1 6LB | York | 90 |
| 6 | The Ribs of Beef, 24 Wensum St, Norwich NR3 1HY | Norwich | 90 |
| 7 | Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar, 30-34 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QE | Edinburgh | 89 |
| 7 | Yates, 2-6 Cambridge St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4HP | Sheffield | 89 |
| 8 | Lass O’Gowrie, 36 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB | Manchester | 88 |
| 9 | Frog & Parrot, 94 Division St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4GF | Sheffield | 86 |
| 10 | Old Arcade, Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG | Cardiff | 84 |
Nottingham’s Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem has been unveiled as the best pub to enjoy a pint of Guinness, after achieving an outstanding sentiment score of 98. Housed in a Grade II listed building, the pub features charming, wonky interior after being built under a series of stone caves. Visitors can start their St Patrick’s Day celebrations with a free Jameson Irish whisky ginger and lime upon arriving at the pub.
Securing second place is Rosie’s Bar based in Newcastle, boasting a Guinness sentiment score of 97. Famed for its closeness to St James’ Park stadium, the pub is a much-loved place in Newcastle, steeped in character and history. Rosie’s has marked the Irish holiday with events in previous years.
Following in third place are York’s The Punch Bowl and Glasgow’s Murphy’s, after each receiving a sentiment score of 96. The Punch Bowl is a traditional pub renowned for its regular events and popularity amongst locals, while Murphy’s is an Irish pub and is set to host live music across St Patrick’s Day weekend to mark the occasion.
